Hospitality industry experts have criticised the recent trend in UK pubs for ‘surge pricing’, or charging more for drinks at peak times, similar to how ride-sharing services work.
The practice has been introduced at around 400 pubs owned by the Stonegate Group. A spokesperson told news.com.au that the timing of surge pricing, in which a pint of beer would cost about 20 pence (40 cents) more, would vary by pub, but that generally prices would be higher on weekends and evenings.
But Professor Johannes Dumay from Macquarie University says Aussies would be “up in arms” if surge pricing was introduced in pubs here and that it would be more about how pubs marketed the change.
“Many pubs and clubs already use happy hour (or weekend surcharges) to achieve the same without having an ‘in your face’ price rise,” he said.
“People love discounts more than they like surge pricing. It is just how you sell it.”
Would you accept surge pricing in pubs here?